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Gov. Lee Authorizes Tennessee Guard Deployment to Southern Border as Drug Crisis Surges

By Ronni Chase Dec 7, 2021 | 4:01 PM

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has authorized additional Tennessee National Guard support to be sent to the U.S. Southern Border in early 2022 to curb a surging drug crisis.  According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, more than 200,000 pounds of fentanyl and methamphetamine – leading drivers of drug overdose – have been seized along the Southern border so far this year.  Tennessee recorded over 3,000 drug overdose deaths in 2020, which was a 45% increase from the previous year.  Approximately 50 Tennessee Guard personnel will deploy in early 2022 to support the Texas National Guard and the Texas Department of Safety.